CFFC 144 preview: Championship rematch filled with intrigue as Auttumn Norton returns against Emily Martins
Additionally, Mark Grey and Sean Mora meet for vacant title at Friday's event, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Tampa's Florida State Fairgrounds.
TAMPA, Florida – Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns to "The Sunshine State" on Friday, when a pair of titles will be on the line in the featured matchups of "CFFC 144: Norton vs. Martins 2" at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
The night's main event sees reigning women's bantamweight champion Auttumn "The Natural" Norton take on the woman she beat to earn the belt, Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Emily "Galega" Martins. Meanwhile, vacant bantamweight gold is on the line in the evening's co-main event, as former CFFC NextGen champion Mark Grey takes on Cuban standout Sean Mora.
The CFFC 144 main card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS, while prelims stream on OnlyFans. Limited tickets remain at CFFC.tv.
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS, 9 p.m. ET)
Champ Auttumn Norton vs. Emily Martins – for women's bantamweight title
Mark Grey vs. Sean Mora – for vacant bantamweight title
Shamel Findley vs. Max Quinones
Alius Delarosa vs. Will Rentz
Chris Choo vs. Hunter Lee
Jerry Lleshi vs. Gage Mitchell
PRELIMINARY CARD (OnlyFans, 7 p.m. ET)
Marvin Chavez vs. Matt Hammerstone
Tommy Laipply vs. Jaylon McDaniel
NextGen: Dontay Friga vs. Jesse Dejong – for vacant bantamweight title
NextGen: Emilio Barco vs. Jesse Soules
NextGen: Noah Lopez vs. John Murphy
NextGen: Juan Cruz vs. Jessin Williams
NextGen: Caleb Nelson vs. Jose Norat
MAIN EVENT: Auttumn Norton vs. Emily Martins
When Auttumn Norton (4-2 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) and Emily Martins (3-1 MMA, 3-1 CFFC) faced off for the first time, vacant gold was up for grabs in what looked to be an intriguing clash between a powerful striker and a dangerous submission artist. Who would reign supreme in the battle of stylistic opposites?
It took just 10 seconds to get an answer to that question, with Norton delivering a devastating knockout to hand Martin, 10 years her junior, the first loss of her career.
Now, 13 months later – and after taking quite different paths – the two collide again.
For champion Norton, it's been a bit of a frustrating stretch. She was expected to compete this past September, but a shoulder injury forced her out of that planned matchup and she's been sidelined in the time since. Now, she finally gets a chance to defend her belt for the first time and prove that she belongs at the sport's highest level.
Meanwhile, Martins took some time off after the loss to improve her striking skills and better prepare for the challenges she'll continue to face in her budding career. She returned to action in April and scored a first-round submission victory, then immediately called for a chance to run it back with Norton – this time hoping to really get into a fight, rather than seeing it all end before it ever really began.
Will the 31-year-old champion prove the first meeting was no fluke? Or can the 21-year-old challenger show the hype behind her before the loss was all justified? We'll find out on Friday night, for however long it lasts.
CO-MAIN EVENT: Mark Grey vs. Sean Mora
With reigning bantamweight champion Joey Ruquet vacating his title in hopes of either a UFC call or receiving new opportunities outside of MMA, challengers Mark Grey (7-1 MMA, 5-1 CFFC) and Sean Mora (6-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) are looking to seize the biggest opportunities of their careers in the night's co-main event and walk away an undisputed CFFC champion.
Grey is a former CFFC NextGen featherweight titleholder who went undefeated during his amateur run on the way to winning the belt. A standout wrestler before his MMA days, Grey was a three-time NCAA Division I Championships qualifier during his time at Cornell, and he has used those skills masterfully in compiling an impressive record that has seen his only loss come to former champ Vilson Ndregjoni, who was 138.8 pounds for the bantamweight matchup.
The 32-year-old Gray has since bounced back with a victory and now finds himself gunning for his first professional title.
Meanwhile, Cuba's Mora makes his promotional debut on the strength of a three-fight win streak that includes a submission victory over former Dana White's Contender Series winner Mo Miller. A standout wrestler in his own rights, Mora was the 2015 Junior Pan-American Greco-Roman wrestling champion and is steadily improving his overall game as part of Freedom Fighters Martial Arts. The 28-year-old prospect is now looking for the biggest win of his career.
One of these two men will claim a belt formerly held by CFFC Hall of Famer Aljamain Sterling, not to mention such other MMA notables as Da'Mon Blackshear, Alexander Keshtov, Nick Pace and Jimmie Rivera, among others.
Shamel Findley vs. Max Quinones
Former CFFC flyweight title challenger Shamel "Badman" Findley (6-3-1 MMA, 2-2 CFFC) and former No. 1 contender Max "The Candyman" Quinones (5-3 MMA, 5-2 CFFC) meet in a long-expected rematch from their amateur days with each in need of a big result.
Findlay came up short in his bid for the CFFC title against a then-undefeated Badmatsyren Dorzhiev in 2023 and then returned in 2024 against top prospect Bilal Hasan, proving his "anybody, anywhere, anytime" mentality, but he's now looking to halt a two-fight slide. Meanwhile, Quinones opened his career at a spectacular 4-0 but has seen his wrestling tested against top competition in a recent 1-3 stretch and is anxious to regain the momentum he held early in his career.
Quinones was the victor via decision in their initial meeting in 2018, and he'll look to repeat the feat on a much bigger stage, while Findlay will be hoping for a degree of revenge in the rematch.
Alius Delarosa vs. Will Rentz
Undefeated lightweight newcomer Alius Delarosa (3-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) looks to make an immediate impact in his promotional debut, as he takes on all-action fan favorite "Iron" Will Rentz (5-2 MMA, 5-2 CFFC).
A four-time Idaho state champion wrestler, Delarosa is undefeated through the first seven combined contests of his MMA career as a professional and amateur, including six finishes. However, in his UFC FIGHT PASS debut, he'll now take on the most experienced opponent of his career to date.
Meanwhile, Rentz is a mainstay of CFFC's visits to Florida, competing for the entirety of his professional career under the promotion's banner. He currently stands at 4-1 in his past five appearances, with all four wins earned by knockout, and he'll undoubtedly have a vocal crowd in support for what should be a thrilling matchup.
Chris Choo vs. Hunter Lee
In a 195-pound catchweight matchup, Chris Choo (4-2 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) returns to the CFFC cage just six weeks after his promotional debut to take on Canadian newcomer "Big Game" Hunter Lee (3-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
Choo competed as a light heavyweight at CFFC 143 in June, scoring a second-round submission win in North Dakota. With eyes ultimately on a middleweight career, Choo moves down 10 pounds for his quick turnaround.
Meanwhile, Lee proudly refers to himself as "the most ducked fighter in Canada." A former Canadian national champion wrestler and 2019 Junior World Championships medalist, Lee is perfect through the first three bouts of his professional career and also makes a quick return to action after scoring the first stoppage win of his career on May 30.
Jerry Lleshi vs. Gage Mitchell
The night's main card kicks off in the flyweight division, as former CFFC NextGen champ Jerry Lleshi (3-1 MMA, 3-1 CFFC) returns to face promotional newcomer "Game Over" Gage Mitchell (3-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
After a perfect amateur career, Lleshi lost his professional debut via split decision to Bilal Hasan, who has since earned the CFFC pro belt and registered two successful defenses. The 25-year-old Dante Rivera BJJ product has bounced back from that result with three straight wins and has consistently called for a rematch with Hasan along the way.
Meanwhile, Mitchell opened his career on a tear, with three straight stoppage wins to kick off his professional run. He suffered the first setback of his career in October in a failed bid for a title on the Indiana regional scene but now looks to begin that climb again in style.
Marvin Chavez vs. Matt Hammerstone
The night's featured prelim takes place at bantamweight, as Mexico's Marvin Chavez (2-2) faces a returning Matt "The Hammer" Hammerstone (1-1).
At just 22, Chavez makes his promotional debut on the strength of a 61-second knockout win this past December, snapping a two-fight skid in the process. He now takes on the 30-year-old Hammerstone, who was perfect as an amateur and then suffered a disappointing setback in his professional debut at CFFC 131 before returning to action at September's CFFC 135 and collecting a second-round stoppage.
Tommy Laipply vs. Jaylon McDaniel
The night's first professional contest sees a returning Tommy Laipply (1-2) face CFFC newcomer Jaylon McDaniel (2-1) at featherweight.
Laipply was undefeated as an amateur but then suffered a loss in his professional debut at CFFC 122, losing to Morquez Forest, who would go on to claim an interim CFFC title. Two years later, Laipply returns to the CFFC cage to seek his first win for the promotion. He faces McDaniel, who also lost his professional debut, which took place under the PFL banner, but has since racked up a pair of first-round stoppages and now makes his CFFC debut.
NextGen: Dontay Friga vs. Jesse Dejong
The final amateur matchup of the night will see two talented prospects face off for the vacant NextGen bantamweight title, as Dontay "The Phantom" Friga (7-0) takes on Jesse "Djames" Dejong (4-1).
The 20-year-old Friga makes his CFFC debut with a perfect record that includes five finishes among his seven victories, and the Futures MMA fighter competes for the fourth time already this year. Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Dejong returns to the CFFC cage following a decision win in his promotional debut in April. The Gracie Tampa South athletes brings a three-fight win streak into the contest.
NextGen: Emilio Barco vs. Jesse Soules
The second of two flyweight matchups in the NextGen division sees a returning Emilio Barco (5-1) face CFFC newcomer Jesse Soules (3-3).
Barco made his promotional debut in April, taking home a decision win and rebounding from the lone loss of his amateur career. Meanwhile, Soules opened his amateur run at 0-2 but now stands at 3-1 in his past four appearances ahead of his CFFC debut.
NextGen: Noah Lopez vs. John Murphy
Two CFFC newcomers collide at lightweight, as Noah Lopez (5-3) takes on John "Afro Samurai" Murphy (3-0).
After some mixed results early in his career, Lopez enters the contest on a three-fight win streak, with all three results earned by stoppage. Meanwhile, Murphy is perfect through his first three appearance and has yet to see the judges' cards.
NextGen: Juan Cruz vs. Jessin Williams
Talented featherweights capable of quick finishes collide next, as Juan Cruz (5-0) takes on Jessin Williams (5-0).
Cruz returns after competing just three weeks ago, taking home a submission win via rear-naked choke in just 29 seconds. Meanwhile, Williams fought most recently in November, needing just 10 seconds to take home a win via knockout.
NextGen: Caleb Nelson vs. Jose Norat
The evening kicks off at flyweight, as Caleb Nelson (3-1) makes his promotional debut against a returning Jose Norat (4-3).
Gracie Tampa South's Nelson returns to the cage for the first time in a little more than a year and boasts two first-round finishes among his three wins. Meanwhile, Raiz Jiu-Jitsu's Norat came up short on the judges' cards at April's CFFC 141 and now seeks his first win for the promotion.
